Broadsheet

Cuddly educated dads

Will the debunking ever stop this week? Here's another gender stereotype that's getting shattered. Apparently, highly educated men are not all slaving away at the office and missing out on their kids' formative years. In fact, a government study found that dads with college degrees were more likely to bathe and play with their children than fathers who didn't graduate from high school, according to the Associated Press.

The report, released yesterday by the National Center on Health Statistics and focused on men ages 15 to 44, is the government's first effort to look at fathers and parenting -- which is encouraging news in itself. Anyway, it found that although more educated men had fewer children -- two compared with the nearly three of their less-educated counterparts -- they were more involved dads.

The study is filled with more stats that look at education: For example, nearly half of men 22 to 44 who didnt graduate from high school weren't married when they had a child. That's compared with just 6 percent of men with college degrees. And there are lots of facts and figures that compare racial minorities; the gist is that black and Hispanic fathers tend to have children younger and more frequently outside of marriage than white men.

Whatever the breakdowns, though, the study found that nearly all fathers loved their parental status. A whopping 98 percent -- and 97 percent of mothers -- agreed with the statement: "The rewards of being a parent are worth it despite the cost and work it takes."

And the study found that 74 percent of fathers who live with their young children -- and 9 percent who don't -- feed them or eat with them every day.

Way to go, dads!

Posted in: Parenting

News flash: Masculinity is about more than sex
A study suggests that stereotypes about men's view of masculinity are wrong.
Quote of the day
Sen. Barbara Boxer on Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin.
What's that smell?
Scented candles for men will bring the fragrance of urinal cakes into your home at last.
Should Obama have picked Hillary?
Did the GOP just co-opt the Democrats' chance at making history? Sarah Palin, a conservative, antiabortion, pro-NRA Republican may just be the first woman in the White House.

Recent Posts

Quote of the day
Sen. Barbara Boxer on Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin.
What's that smell?
Scented candles for men will bring the fragrance of urinal cakes into your home at last.
Should Obama have picked Hillary?
Did the GOP just co-opt the Democrats' chance at making history? Sarah Palin, a conservative, antiabortion, pro-NRA Republican may just be the first woman in the White House.

Full Archive

RSS Feed

Posts by date

August 2008
SuMoTuWeThFrSa
12
3456789
10111213141516
17181920212223
24252627282930
31

Tips or Comments?

E-mail us at broadsheet@salon.com.